There are lots of old stone walls here in SE New York.?ÿ For years I have understood the gap in a stonewall that the farmer used to get from field to field, now abandoned and grown over, to be a barway.?ÿ I just looked it up and all I can find are versions of: "a gateway closed by bars usually fitting into posts"?ÿ I can see where wooden posts would have long ago rotted away, but that version does not match up with the hole in the wall that I am used to.?ÿ
Can some of you experts enlighten me?
Thanks
Ken
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Barway is the term I have also used to describe a gap in a stonewall. I'm in SW CT.
Back when I worked in that area, we used barway in the same manner.
Farmers often put in posts with crossbars at those gaps in the stone wall to keep their horses and cows from crossing from one field to another, hence the gap in the wall being called a barway.
you are correct, see photos on page 314 and 317 of Don Wilsons forensic procedures for boundary and title investigation
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I have a barway in my field. It is a gap in the stone wall and it does or does not have bars. I learned the term from the neighbors when I moved to my country home. I also learned the term dooryard meaning the yard or garden just outside the door of your house. Now I look for barways to note on the maps I draw to arouse other's curiosity.
Historic boundaries and conservation efforts.
Ken,
Back in the politically incorrect day, barway was strictly used to define, not only a direction but a destination, at the end of a long work week. Topless barway only on special occasions.
Happy New Year!
JA, PLS SoCal
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We do have some stone fences in this area but not many.?ÿ Have learned a new word today.?ÿ Is this a great place or what?
Barway does not mean the use of iron bars, iron was too precious when wood would do the job. The gate installed essentially bars the way. You are too nearsighted in seeing the word bar:
In England the bar was the railing separating the judge and jury from the public.
bar = the court
bar = to ban, block or barricade
bar = tavern house
belly up to the bar = the counter in a tavern house
sand bar = blocking the travel of watercraft
bar = iron rod
bar = the wooden rails on a horse jump
bar = the rail on a high jump or pole vault
cross bar = part of a football goalpost, in the past being of wood
plus, "Daniel Boone shot him a bar"
Paul in PA
When I served on a Superior Court Jury the subject of distance came up. The Judge interjected that it is 25 feet from the bench to the bar in her courtroom.
In the Forest a water bar is a dirt speed bump in the logging road directing rainwater off the road to prevent erosion.
Texans confuse bar with borrow.?ÿ Silly people.
